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Spaying
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Spaying involves the removal of your cat's uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. This makes your cat infertile and prevents her from going into heat. It is also referred to as an ovariohysterectomy.
Benefits
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Spaying your cat can prevent health problems from developing in the future, such as uterine and ovarian cancer. Removing the ovaries can help deter the growth of mammary tumors, and will stop the annoying side effects of a cat in heat. Spaying also helps keep your cat from contributing to the pet overpopulation problem.
The Surgery
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Your cat will need to be anesthetized during the spay surgery. Careful incisions are made in the abdomen, and the organs are pulled outside of the incision before being surgically removed. Several layers of tissue, such as muscle and skin, will need to be sutured; not all veterinarians will use stitches outside of the skin, which require removal after recovery.
Recovery
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Your cat may exhibit signs of discomfort or soreness after surgery, but should not be in extreme pain. Try to keep your cat quiet and limit its activities for the first few days, and do not allow her to lick the incision or access the stitches. Your cat may feel almost back to normal as soon as the next day, but you should still monitor her closely.
Precautions
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While you may notice some swelling around the incision, there should not be any fluid seeping from the wound. Avoid bathing your cat for at least 10 days after the surgery. Anesthesia can cause nausea, so hold off on feeding your cat until the evening of the surgery or the next day; if you notice anything out of the ordinary, or if your cat is in pain during its recovery, call your veterinarian.
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Cat Spay Surgery Recovery
Spaying is a common procedure performed on dogs and cats. While it is a beneficial and important surgery, it is still a major operation and your cat will need careful post-operative care. Follow all of your veterinarian's instructions and contact him immediately if you have any questions or problems.